August 11, 2011

Missouri Corn Production Up, Soybean Production Down From Last Year

(COLUMBIA, MO) -"A difficult growing season coupled with localized flooding and one of the hottest July’s on record have stressed this year’s corn and soybean crops statewide,” said Gene Danekas, Director, USDA-Missouri Agricultural Statistics. "Cooler and wetter weather will be needed in August to maintain soybean prospects.” Based upon conditions on August 1, the following forecasts are expected.

Missouri corn plantings are estimated at 3.25 million acres, 3 percent above last year but unchanged from the June 1 estimate. Corn acres harvested for grain are forecast at 3.10 million acres, up 3 percent from 2010 and also unchanged from the June estimate.  Yield per harvested acre is forecast at 126 bushels, up 3 bushels from last year but down 27 bushels from 2009. Production is forecast at 391 million bushels. If realized, this production would be 5 percent above a year ago and the fifth largest corn crop on record.

Soybean planted acreage in Missouri is estimated at 5.10 million acres, 1 percent below 2010 and unchanged from the June 1 estimate. Harvested acres are expected to total 5.05 million acres, 20,000 acres below last year and unchanged from the estimate on June 1. Yield is forecast at 39 bushels per acre, down 2.5 bushels from 2010. Production is forecast at 197 million bushels, 6 percent below last year. If realized, this will be the fourth largest soybean crop on record.

Missouri winter wheat producers harvested 690,000 acres of the 830,000 acres planted last fall. Harvested acreage is up 410,000 acres from last year but 40,000 acres below 2009. Yield per harvested acre is forecast at 50 bushels, 5 bushels per acre more than a year earlier and 3 bushels per acre above 2009. Production is forecast at 34.5 million bushels, 174 percent above last year and 1 percent above 2009.

The total area of all hay to be harvested in Missouri is forecast at 3.82 million acres, 1 percent below last year and 2 percent below 2009. Harvested acres of alfalfa are forecast at 220,000 acres which are expected to produce 616,000 tons with a yield of 2.80 tons per acre. Other hay harvested acres are forecast at 3.60 million acres. Production of other hay is forecast at 6.12 million tons with a yield of 1.70 tons per acre. Cotton planted acres in Missouri are estimated at 340,000 acres, 10 percent above last year. Producers expect to harvest 334,000 acres. A yield of 1,035 pounds per acre is forecast, 33 pounds per acre below last year. The resulting 720,000 480-pound bales would be 35,000 bales above last year. If realized this would be the fifth largest cotton crop on record. Planted acres of Missouri rice are estimated at 145,000 acres, 43 percent below the 2010 record acreage. Harvested acres are forecast at 135,000 acres, 46 percent below last year and 33 percent below 2009. A yield of 6,800 pounds per acre is forecast, 320 pounds per acre above last year. If realized, this would result in a production of 9.18 million hundredweight, the lowest since 7.44 million hundredweight in 1998.

Planted acres of sorghum in Missouri are estimated at 40,000 acres, tied with last year for the lowest sorghum planted acres on record. Sorghum acres to be harvested for grain are forecast at 35,000 acres, up 2,000 acres from last year. A yield of 88 bushels per acre is expected which would result in a production of 3.08 million bushels, 20 percent above 2010.

United States Crops

U.S. corn production is forecast at 12.9 billion bushels, up 4 percent from 2010. If realized, this will be the third largest production total on record for the United States. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 153.0 bushels per acre, up 0.2 bushel from 2010, and the fourth highest yield on record.

Soybean production in the U.S. is forecast at 3.06 billion bushels, down 8 percent from last year. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 41.4 bushels per acre, down 2.1 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at 73.8 million acres, down less than 1 percent from June and down 4 percent from 2010.

U.S. winter wheat production is forecast at 1.50 billion bushels, up slightly from last month and up 1 percent from 2010. The United States yield is forecast at 46.3 bushels per acre, up 0.1 bushel from last month but down 0.5 bushel from last year. The area expected to be harvested for grain totals 32.3 million acres, unchanged from last month but up 2 percent from last year.

U.S. rice production is forecast at 188 million cwt, down 23 percent from last year. Area for harvest is expected to total 2.64 million acres, down slightly from the June Acreage report and 27 percent lower than 2010. The average United States yield is forecast at 7,114 pounds per acre, up 389 pounds from last year. U.S. upland cotton production is forecast at 15.8 million 480-pound bales, down 10 percent from 2010. U.S. sorghum production is forecast at 241 million bushels, down 30 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 4.39 million acres, down 4 percent from the previous forecast and down 9 percent from 2010. If realized, this will be the lowest harvested acreage level since 1936. Based on August 1 conditions, yield is forecast at 54.8 bushels per acre, down 17 bushels from last year.